Now, I have read any commentary for this song, so all I can give is my interpretation, via a stanza-by-stanza explanation:
"You've got my lost brother's soul
My dear mother's eyes
A brown horse's man
and my uncle's name"
I think this just means that there are a lot of aspects in the person he's with/was with that he remembers from other people and things in his life. The soul of his brother, the eyes of his mother, a horse's mane (maybe reference to facial hair), and uncle's name.
"You walked me down 14th Street
for the doctor to meet after thoughts of the grave
In the home of the brave and of the weak"
I honestly think, when I hear this, that the 2nd guy is taking Rufus to the doctor to get checked up on for AIDS. The thoughts of the grave aspect along with being brought to a doctor really enforces this. Home of the brave and weak is obviously a reference to us Americans. He may consider himself and others like him weak, or maybe he's saying people who can't accept gays are weak. I'm not sure.
"But why'd you have to break all my heart..."
This stanza, that gets repeated often, means that something went wrong with the relationship (obviously). More than likely the 2nd man got scared and ran away before the results could even be given. Or maybe he did test positive and the guy ran away. Just b/c Rufus sings this song doesn't necessarily mean its his story. He may have heard it from someone else and been inspired.
"I could have clipped and saved and planted in the garden..."
This reminds me of clipping coupons in order to save money on groceries and stuff. He could also be talking all about the garden, but i think the general meaning is, "We could have been happy together, but now I guess I'll have to find someone else".
"I'd love to sit and watch..."
He's just pining over how much he adored this man and how much of a joy it was to be with him. And, he never wants him to change. The Bo Peep reference makes me feel that maybe he felt that he had found what he was looking for, what most people were looking for, "true love". but then...
"Why'd you have to break all my heart...."
This stanza says that he wishes he could have "ripped apart" and gotten away before he really fell in love. Now he wonders if there will be others out there for him, "hearts that will deliver".
"Don't ever change, don't ever worry
Because I'm coming back home tomorrow
To 14th Street where I won't hurry
And where I'll learn how to save, not just borrow
And they'll be rainbows and we will finally know"
This whole stanza seems like his resolve to say he'll come back to 14th street tomorrow, and he wont' run, he won't be desperate. He'll come normal b/c he knows things are gonna be alright. He knows that he'll learn how to save something (obviously not money, but maybe love and time) instead of just borrowing it (one night stands, short flings, etc.). And they'll be rainbows (everything will be beautiful)
"and we will finally know"
Can be taken two ways:
(1) They'll finally know whether or not he has AIDS
(2) He'll finally know if there are others in the world who will love him.
I always thought that the "with a doctor to meet ... home of the brave and of the weak" referred to a therapist or psychiatrist rather than a medical doctor. "Thoughts of the grave" suggested suicidal thoughts to me, especially coupled with the line "home of the brave and of the weak," since suicide is often debated in terms of whether it is a courageous act or a coward's action.
I always thought that the "with a doctor to meet ... home of the brave and of the weak" referred to a therapist or psychiatrist rather than a medical doctor. "Thoughts of the grave" suggested suicidal thoughts to me, especially coupled with the line "home of the brave and of the weak," since suicide is often debated in terms of whether it is a courageous act or a coward's action.
Now, I have read any commentary for this song, so all I can give is my interpretation, via a stanza-by-stanza explanation:
"You've got my lost brother's soul My dear mother's eyes A brown horse's man and my uncle's name"
I think this just means that there are a lot of aspects in the person he's with/was with that he remembers from other people and things in his life. The soul of his brother, the eyes of his mother, a horse's mane (maybe reference to facial hair), and uncle's name.
"You walked me down 14th Street for the doctor to meet after thoughts of the grave In the home of the brave and of the weak"
I honestly think, when I hear this, that the 2nd guy is taking Rufus to the doctor to get checked up on for AIDS. The thoughts of the grave aspect along with being brought to a doctor really enforces this. Home of the brave and weak is obviously a reference to us Americans. He may consider himself and others like him weak, or maybe he's saying people who can't accept gays are weak. I'm not sure.
"But why'd you have to break all my heart..."
This stanza, that gets repeated often, means that something went wrong with the relationship (obviously). More than likely the 2nd man got scared and ran away before the results could even be given. Or maybe he did test positive and the guy ran away. Just b/c Rufus sings this song doesn't necessarily mean its his story. He may have heard it from someone else and been inspired.
"I could have clipped and saved and planted in the garden..."
This reminds me of clipping coupons in order to save money on groceries and stuff. He could also be talking all about the garden, but i think the general meaning is, "We could have been happy together, but now I guess I'll have to find someone else".
"I'd love to sit and watch..." He's just pining over how much he adored this man and how much of a joy it was to be with him. And, he never wants him to change. The Bo Peep reference makes me feel that maybe he felt that he had found what he was looking for, what most people were looking for, "true love". but then...
"Why'd you have to break all my heart...." This stanza says that he wishes he could have "ripped apart" and gotten away before he really fell in love. Now he wonders if there will be others out there for him, "hearts that will deliver".
"Don't ever change, don't ever worry Because I'm coming back home tomorrow To 14th Street where I won't hurry And where I'll learn how to save, not just borrow And they'll be rainbows and we will finally know" This whole stanza seems like his resolve to say he'll come back to 14th street tomorrow, and he wont' run, he won't be desperate. He'll come normal b/c he knows things are gonna be alright. He knows that he'll learn how to save something (obviously not money, but maybe love and time) instead of just borrowing it (one night stands, short flings, etc.). And they'll be rainbows (everything will be beautiful)
"and we will finally know" Can be taken two ways: (1) They'll finally know whether or not he has AIDS (2) He'll finally know if there are others in the world who will love him.
I always thought that the "with a doctor to meet ... home of the brave and of the weak" referred to a therapist or psychiatrist rather than a medical doctor. "Thoughts of the grave" suggested suicidal thoughts to me, especially coupled with the line "home of the brave and of the weak," since suicide is often debated in terms of whether it is a courageous act or a coward's action.
I always thought that the "with a doctor to meet ... home of the brave and of the weak" referred to a therapist or psychiatrist rather than a medical doctor. "Thoughts of the grave" suggested suicidal thoughts to me, especially coupled with the line "home of the brave and of the weak," since suicide is often debated in terms of whether it is a courageous act or a coward's action.
I really think that "brown horse's mane" refers to the man's head of hair rather than facial hair.
I really think that "brown horse's mane" refers to the man's head of hair rather than facial hair.